The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-24
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
a Mans Life Wrecked and "a Woman,
Heart Broken.


Heart Broken.
GLEAyIEw, Pa, June 22.-On Monday
last Walter Wade, bold, dashing stock
and provision speculator, came home
from California to fulfill promise of
marriage with Miss Fanny Eckert,
which was to take place at noon on
Thursday. The most elaborate prepara-
tions had been made, and the relatives
and friends of the young lady waited
with pleasure for the happy event. But
Wade's recent i'll luck stI ick the specu-
lative field, drove him to despair, and
rather than face the disappointment
which would follow he attempted sui
lessly insane at the home of
his parents, some distance from
this place. Walter is the only son
of j. Werner Wade who soon after ms
marriage fell heir to n large fortune.
After the young man had completed his
collegiate studies and graduated with
high honors he decided to take a trip to
California, and so informed his parents.
They entreated him to remain at home.
but to no purpose. Appealing to his fa-
ther, he said: loan me 81 900 and will
return it with interest" His father inn
mediately gave him a ckeck for the
amount. The next day he started for
California. Four years afterward his
family and friends We're surprised To see
him arrive home. He entered his ia
theirs house as though his absence had
been but day, drew up a chair. and
taking from a well filled purse $l2 40 he
handed it to his father, saying: Here
is the borrowed money, with g per cent.
interest"
This was all so rapidly done that Mr..
Wade had hardly time to realize who it
was and what it meant. As he related To
his parents he had met with phenomenal
success, and by shrewd and conservative
speculation amassed over 81 900. 200. At
ter a few days stay, during which time
he renewed pledges of love to Miss
doubted his sincerity, departed again.
Letter after letter was received by her,
i'm which he boasted of his continued
success and said he was Serfecting ar
rangements to come home and remain.
The wedding was fixed for June 10, but
his character was too weak to re-
sist the social temptations that now be-
set him. A fondness for WINE and
champagne suppers took possession,
which was soon followed by every dis
sipation. Luck turned against him, and
he began to lose money until his fortune
was nearly swept away. Depressed i'm
spirits the dashing speculator returned
home. His general appearance was de-
jected, but by the aid Of stimulant he
managed to assume his old spirits.
On Wednesday afternoon he remarked
to his father that he desired to write
room giving instructions that he must
not be intruded upon. Every thing in
the way of preparation for the wedding
next day had reached a point of COM
pleteness. and at p. IN. a friend Of the
groom called to see him. As the matter
was urgent, his father went up stairs
and called him. He called again and,
receiving no answer. forced the door
open. He beheld his son suspended
from halter st,ap, with the end knot
ted around the top of the bed post, almost
dead from strangulation. He quickly
cut the strap and placed the body ON the
bed and summoned a physician. The
doctor said that another minute would
have produced death. and that, while he
might possibly survive, he would be
hopelessly insane.
The business letters which he was sup
posed to he writing were tn Miss EckeIt
and his parents. They told OF his dissi-
patton and losses at gambling and Of his
complete ruin. He says in his letter to
the young lady: